Cooling oil in an engine system

ABSTRACT

A system and method for cooling oil in an engine system. In one embodiment, the system includes an oil sump and an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump. The oil cooler receives cooling fluid and ejects the cooling fluid, and the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the overall size of the engine system and the number of external pressurized oil lines are reduced.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to engine systems, and more particularly to a system and method for cooling oil in an engine system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Engine systems typically include oil cooling systems to cool oil in the engine system. Oil cooling systems include a heat exchanger through which oil passes. The heat exchanger is typically located somewhere external to the engine block. Oil is delivered to the heat exchanger via tubes. Engine coolant is also delivered to the heat exchanger via tubes. The oil typically makes contact with the tubes containing engine coolant, and heat from the oil transfers to the engine coolant. Problems with conventional oil cooling systems include the requirement for external oil lines. These lines add cost, increase space claim, and are a potential hazard in case of failure,

Accordingly, what is needed is an improved system and method for cooling oil that is simple and cost effective. The present invention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and method for cooling oil in an engine system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an oil sump and an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump. The oil cooler receives cooling fluid and ejects the cooling fluid, and the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the overall size of the engine system and risk is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an engine system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an oil cooler in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method for cooling oil in an engine system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an oil cooler that is a part of a closed-loop system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an oil cooler that is a part of an open-loop system in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to engine systems, and more particularly to a system and method for cooling oil in an engine system. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

A system and method in accordance with the present invention for cooling oil in an engine system are disclosed. The system includes an oil sump and an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump. The oil cooler is integrated into the oil sump in that the oil cooler is positioned inside of the oil sump. Cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler. Also, oil gets cooled as the oil passes through the oil sump and around the oil cooler. As a result, the overall size of the engine system and number of external lines are reduced. To more particularly describe the features of the present invention, refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an engine system 100 in accordance with one embodiment. As FIG. 1 shows, the engine system 100 includes an engine 102, and the engine 102 includes an oil cooler 104. Although embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein may be applied in the context of vehicles, embodiments of the present invention may also have non-vehicle applications, and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the engine system 100 may be part of a vehicle, a generator set or other engine applications, etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an oil cooler 200 in accordance with one embodiment. As FIG. 2 shows, the oil cooler 200 includes an oil cooler inlet 202 for receiving a cooling fluid 205 and an oil cooler outlet 204 for ejecting the cooling fluid 205. The oil cooler 200 is positioned inside of an oil sump 206 (also referred to as an “oil pan”or an “oil pan sump”). In other words, the oil cooler 200 is integrated into the oil sump 206. The oil sump 206 is a part of the engine 102. As such, because the oil cooler 200 is integrated into the oil sump 206, the oil cooler 200 is a part of the engine 102. In other words, the oil cooler 200 is integrated into, or internal to, the engine 102. The oil sump 206 is a reservoir that contains oil 208 and includes an oil sump inlet 210 for receiving the oil 208 and an oil sump outlet 212 for ejecting the oil 208. In one embodiment, the oil cooler 200 may be accessed via a hole in the oil sump 206 which would allow service of the oil cooler 200 without removal of the oil sump 206 from the engine system. In one embodiment, the oil cooler 200 may also function as a windage tray. In one embodiment, a windage tray is a barrier placed between the oil sump and the crankshaft and rotating components. This barrier keeps the surface of the oil in the sump (reservoir) from impinging on the rotating components. When the rotating components contact the surface of the oil in the sump, the oil removes kinetic energy from the crankshaft, which results in decreased performance and economy.

An advantage of the oil cooler 200 being inside or integrated into the oil sump 210 is that it requires no external oil lines and decreases the package size and complexity of the overall engine system 100. Embodiments of the present invention have applications in marine environments, which are space sensitive applications. Decreasing external pressurized oil lines and the fittings necessary decreases the chance for oil leaks, which can be an environmental hazard and cause damage to the engine.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method for cooling oil in an engine system in accordance with one embodiment. Referring to both FIGS. 2 and 3 together, the process begins in step 302 where the oil cooler 200 is integrated into (e.g., inside of) the oil sump 206. Next, in step 304, the oil cooler 200 receives cooling fluid 205 and then, in step 306, ejects the cooling fluid 205, where the cooling fluid cools the oil 208 in the oil sump 206 as the cooling fluid 205 passes through the oil cooler 200. Also, the oil 208 gets cooled as the oil 208 passes through the oil sump 206 and around the oil cooler 200.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an oil cooler 400 that is a part of a closed-loop system in accordance with one embodiment. As FIG. 4 shows, the oil cooler 400 includes an oil cooler inlet 402 for receiving a cooling fluid and an oil cooler outlet 404 for ejecting the cooling fluid. The oil cooler 400 is positioned inside of the oil sump 206 of the engine 102. In this specific embodiment, the cooling fluid is engine coolant that is fed to the oil cooler 400 by a separate cooling system (not shown) and then circulated back to the separate cooling system. As such, heat from the oil is transferred to the engine coolant as the engine coolant circulates through the oil cooler 400.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an oil cooler 500 that is a part of an open-loop system in accordance with one embodiment. As FIG. 5 shows, the oil cooler 500 includes an oil cooler inlet 502 for receiving a cooling fluid and an oil cooler outlet 504 for ejecting the cooling fluid. The oil cooler 500 is positioned inside of the oil sump 206 of the engine 102. In this specific embodiment, cooling fluid is raw water that is fed to the oil cooler 500 from a fresh or salt water environment (e.g., lake, ocean, etc.) and then fed back to the fresh or salt water environment. As such, heat from the oil is transferred to the raw water as the raw water passes through the oil cooler 500. Although embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein may be applied in the context of engine coolant and raw water used as cooling fluid, embodiments of the present invention may also apply to other types of cooling fluid, and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention provides numerous benefits. For example, embodiments of the present invention reduce the overall size of the engine by decreasing exterior add-ons necessary during marinization and the number of pressurized external oil connections.

A system and method for cooling oil in an engine system have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an oil sump and an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump. The oil cooler receives cooling fluid and ejects the cooling fluid, and where the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the overall size of the engine system is reduced.

The present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments, and that any variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A system comprising: an oil sump; and an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump, wherein the oil cooler receives cooling fluid and ejects the cooling fluid, and wherein the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the oil cooler is integrated into the oil sump in that the oil cooler is positioned inside of the oil sump.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the cooling fluid is raw water.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the cooling fluid is engine coolant.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the oil cooler comprises: an oil cooler inlet for receiving the cooling fluid; and an oil cooler outlet for ejecting the cooling fluid.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the oil cooler is accessed via a hole in the oil sump which allows service of the oil cooler without removal of the oil sump from the engine.
 7. A vehicle comprising: an engine comprising: an oil sump; and an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump, wherein the oil cooler receives cooling fluid and ejects the cooling fluid, and wherein the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler.
 8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the oil cooler is integrated into the oil sump in that the oil cooler is positioned inside of the oil sump.
 9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the cooling fluid is raw water.
 10. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the cooling fluid is engine coolant.
 11. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the oil cooler comprises: an oil cooler inlet for receiving the cooling fluid; and an oil cooler outlet for ejecting the cooling fluid.
 12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the oil cooler is accessed via a hole in the oil sump which allows service of the oil cooler without removal of the oil sump from the engine.
 13. A method for cooling oil in an engine system, the method comprising: providing an oil cooler that is integrated into an oil sump; receiving cooling fluid; and ejecting the cooling fluid, and wherein the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the oil cooler is integrated into the oil sump in that the oil cooler is positioned inside of the oil sump.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the cooling fluid is raw water.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the cooling fluid is engine coolant.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein the oil cooler comprises an oil cooler inlet for receiving the cooling fluid and an oil cooler outlet for ejecting the cooling fluid.
 18. The method of claim 13 wherein the oil cooler is accessed via a hole in the oil sump which allows service of the oil cooler without removal of the oil sump from the engine. 